HYDROS Black Friday sale?

[gregrock68]

What do you guys think, will we see any deals on HYDROS products for the upcoming Black Friday sales?

Been looking to make the switch from Neptune APEX but also hoping to not spend a grand for the Launch and XP8 add on.

Curious, why do you want to switch? From what I have heard the neptune testing and dosing is pretty good controlling the dkh etc, no such thing available with the hydros yet.

 

[n2585722]

Curious, why do you want to switch? From what I have heard the neptune testing and dosing is pretty good controlling the dkh etc, no such thing available with the hydros yet.

I have the Hydros iV and a X10 that I use to dose a KH buffer dynamically using the alkalinity test results.It is setup to test 4 times a day so I have the dosing schedules setup to dose a few minutes after the testis completer. The order is test then AWC and then dosing. So the Hydros can auto test alkalinity. I use Hanna testers for calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate. I do those once a week. There are static inputs you can setup on the Hydros so you can input the results into the Hydros if you want to do that.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

Curious, why do you want to switch? From what I have heard the neptune testing and dosing is pretty good controlling the dkh etc, no such thing available with the hydros yet.

I have had Neptune for a solid 6 - 8 years minimum and on multiple tanks. They have been pretty good generally speaking. Honestly, I don't control half the things that I probably could with mine. They have however let me down on occasion which is bound to happen with anything I guess. As I replace things it seems to me that quality is on a downward trend and customer service is not far behind. So I guess I'm just looking to see what els is out there. What I also see is a lot of people selling Neptune items but not many Hydros. Now is that because there are so many more people with neptune controllers upgrading or leaving the hobby than there are Hydros? Or is it because others are also switching and selling their Neptunes? I can't say for sure but Hydros is the direction that I want to go for now anyway.

 

[Reefuzz]

Also, I use Marineandreef.com and you can buy most of the hydros controllers on their website using “discount7” promo code for 7% (year round) off as well as free 2day shipping. They are local to me (AZ)and have been wonderful

What website should I look at to get these discounts?

 

[BeanAnimal]

You can add a X3-S to a collective with an X4 to get you a salinity port. It also has 2 sense ports and the sense ports seem to get used quickly. Hydros did not have a salinity port option when the X4, X2 and original X3 were introduced. The first controller to have one was the X10 then came the Launch and after that the X3-S. The X3-S is basically an X3 without a pH port but with the salinity port added instead. The Launch has 4 drive ports instead of the 2 on the X4 and they can deliver more current than the ones on an X4.

Makes so much sense! Wow did these folks really put some thought into naming conventions and product feature alignment. Just pop on over to the product matrix prominently displayed on their site and all of this becomes so crystal clear….


Not…

Reading that makes me dizzy and it doesn’t even scratch the surface of how ridiculous the situation, or how poor the marketing information Is.

Minnows and Mavens Control X-this, Launch that
A Sole here a Kraken there.
WaveEngines and iVs, version 2s if you care…
Just silly names and confusion everywhere.
Ridiculous branding and they don’t care.

 

[n2585722]

Makes so much sense! Wow did these folks really put some thought into naming conventions and product feature alignment. Just pop on over to the product matrix prominently displayed on their site and all of this becomes so crystal clear….


Not…

Reading that makes me dizzy and it doesn’t even scratch the surface of how ridiculous the situation, or how poor the marketing information Is.

Minnows and Mavens Control X-this, Launch that
A Sole here a Kraken there.
WaveEngines and iVs, version 2s if you care…
Just silly names and confusion everywhere.
Ridiculous branding and they don’t care.

To me it does not matter what the names are of the controllers. It is about the particular ports they have as to which I will choose for my needs. there are only a few types of ports.

For Inputs there is the ones below

pH/ORP Port Either a pH probe or ORP probe connects
Salinity Port Only a salinity probe.
Sense Port Majority of input sensors other than above
0-10v input port Mostly DIY such as button boxes


For Outputs

Drive Port +12v for controlling 12v DC devices
Force Port +24v for controlling 24v DC devices
0-10v Output for controlling pumps and lighting
AC Outputs For controlling AC source to different devices
Direct Drive Output for powering BLDC motors in pumps


Other Ports

Command bus For communications between controllers
Power Input On some controllers that require more power


Then there are a few controllers with dosing pumps built into them. There are Minnow and Blenny which has pumps that can be set to run at 25, 40 or 55 ml in either direction. Main difference is the Minnow has 2 pumps and the Blenny has 4. The Blenny also has 2 drive ports that then Minnow does not have. Then there are the two controllers with the precision dosing pumps the X10 and Sole. The X10 has 4 pumps and they can be set to run at .1 to 100 ml in either direction in .1 ml increments. These are not ment for continuous use. The Sole has only a single precision dosing pump that can be set from .1 to 300ml in either direction in .1 increments. This one can be used for continuous use. So basically all you need to know is how many of each port you need on in the case of dosing pumps how much of each type. Then just choose the controllers that will get you the ports you need and dosing pumps you need if needed. Then just get enough command bus cables to connect them together and ad a couple of terminators on the two open command bus ports. Then it is just a matter of setup.

 

[tednaso]

Exactly what I’m looking to do is switch to hydros I had a bad experience with GHL customer service after a power bar ( less then 6 months old) was faulty it keep resetting on its own I sent it out to them and they claimed nothing wrong and can’t replace it. I’m not here to spend 100s for products I can’t rely on I’m ready to switch. Hydros seeems like the best option now

I’ve used hydros for a bit. I have a kraken,a wave engine, and a launch. Haven’t run into any issues with them. When I messed up my probe configuration I like how they can check on how I had it setup and walked me through correcting it.

 

[BeanAnimal]

To me it does not matter what the names are of the controllers.

Of course it doesn’t, you are a die hard fan that never misses an opportunity to weave a positive response to anything negative about Hydros or CV. Maybe (honestly) they should be paying you instead of whoever is currently in charge of their marketing

A Inputs there is the ones below….
…Then there are a few controllers….blah blah blah…

You just proved my point, not refuted it. The product offering is a jumbled mess of features and arbitrary product names for new users to navigate just to make a basic purchase, and CV has failed to make it clear.

No need to convince me. I’m not a customer and won’t be. I was a prospective customer once, cash in hand ready to buy. But when the only way to understand the lineup was to go dive down a rabbit hole and come out the other side still confused at the lack of detailed information, I moved on and am glad that I did. Partly because I think it is seat of the pants marketing and R&D, but mostly due to the hard cloud dependence.

No hate, just stunned at the randomness of design and marketing choices and product arc. I can’t take them seriously and see it more of a seat of the pants, poorly thought out “yeah we should cash in on controllers too” ecosystem with focus on cute names and platitudes instead of refined detail and a clear roadmap. The Maven mess reinforces thst idea.

 

[n2585722]

Of course it doesn’t, you are a die hard fan that never misses an opportunity to weave a positive response to anything negative about Hydros or CV. Maybe (honestly) they should be paying you instead of whoever is currently in charge of their marketing


You just proved my point, not refuted it. The product offering is a jumbled mess of features and arbitrary product names for new users to navigate just to make a basic purchase, and CV has failed to make it clear.

No need to convince me. I’m not a customer and won’t be. I was a prospective customer once, cash in hand ready to buy. But when the only way to understand the lineup was to go dive down a rabbit hole and come out the other side still confused at the lack of detailed information, I moved on and am glad that I did. Partly because I think it is seat of the pants marketing and R&D, but mostly due to the hard cloud dependence.

No hate, just bewildered at the choices and product arc.

It is quite simple for me, but I have had Hydros since they came out with the Control 4 which is now referred to as the X4. It is close to the Digital Aquatics that I was using before it compared to the Apex units and that is one reason I went with Hydros. It seemed easier for me to understand than Apex. So far when I have wanted it to do something I have been able to come up with a way. I was refilling my DI reservoir from my RODI and transferring the contents of my mix tank to my fresh saltwater reservoir when that goes low if the contents of the mix tank was ready to use and it would then refill the mix tank. That was before they came out with the RODI filter output. The RODI filter output does make it easier to do but even without that output it could be done.

 

[JeffB418]

Of course it doesn’t, you are a die hard fan that never misses an opportunity to weave a positive response to anything negative about Hydros or CV. Maybe (honestly) they should be paying you instead of whoever is currently in charge of their marketing


You just proved my point, not refuted it. The product offering is a jumbled mess of features and arbitrary product names for new users to navigate just to make a basic purchase, and CV has failed to make it clear.

No need to convince me. I’m not a customer and won’t be. I was a prospective customer once, cash in hand ready to buy. But when the only way to understand the lineup was to go dive down a rabbit hole and come out the other side still confused at the lack of detailed information, I moved on and am glad that I did. Partly because I think it is seat of the pants marketing and R&D, but mostly due to the hard cloud dependence.

No hate, just stunned at the randomness of design and marketing choices and product arc. I can’t take them seriously and see it more of a seat of the pants, poorly thought out “yeah we should cash in on controllers too” ecosystem with focus on cute names and platitudes instead of refined detail and a clear roadmap. The Maven mess reinforces thst idea.

Here, I got bored last night.

 

[scowall]

You can add a X3-S to a collective with an X4 to get you a salinity port. It also has 2 sense ports and the sense ports seem to get used quickly. Hydros did not have a salinity port option when the X4, X2 and original X3 were introduced. The first controller to have one was the X10 then came the Launch and after that the X3-S. The X3-S is basically an X3 without a pH port but with the salinity port added instead. The Launch has 4 drive ports instead of the 2 on the X4 and they can deliver more current than the ones on an X4.

I have looked at this option. actually looking at them all.

For my display tank I actually think a Launch,x3, SOL, 2x wifi strip or xp8 and Ivy will do everything I need for now on my DT and will ad a blenny when the Maven is released and vetted by others.

For my mixing station I think a single Launch will work.

then ad a bunch of 4x float switches,6x optical sensors, 2x salinity probes, dual tds sensor,4x 12v NC solenoids, c02 solenoid, push button box and an auto feeder.

I think that is my wish list. I am sure I am missing things and there will be more that I want to ad.
I am hoarding pennies.

Just priced everything out thru Top shelf aquatics, have never used them but had an easy site to navigate.

i am around $3k for everything i want minus bus cables to connect everything. in reality it don't think that is to bad, just a hard pill to swallow.

I would not recommend the WiFi strip. I have 1 brand new and the other one used for a couple of days. Didn’t like it at all but the XP8 is a great product and choice.

 

[n2585722]

I would not recommend the WiFi strip. I have 1 brand new and the other one used for a couple of days. Didn’t like it at all but the XP8 is a great product and choice.

I have 4 of the wifi strips and have had them quite awhile. At first I was having communication issues, but when I did it was all 4 and the wifi feeder. I eventually replaced my router back in December of 2023 and have not had an issue since. I do not use them for anything critical like ATO, AWC or dosing though. @PPBlimpy also has a Launch listed that has 4 direct AC outlets so that can control the critical things like a XP8 would but it does not have power monitoring though.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

Here, I got bored last night.

THANX that's helpful.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Here, I got bored last night.

LoL - Nice work Jeff. I suppose it's a start that could be cleaned up and some other columns added. Drive currents, dimensions, power consumption, MSRP, included accessories... all of that.

Maybe CV should hire you also.

It is jaw dropping (to me at least) that a fan has to do this for them on a forum after years of brow beating. I honestly don't know what else to say, other than to simply laugh.

 

[PPBlimpy]

i like it. i started an excel spreadsheet to do the same. this definitely helps

 

[JeffB418]

LoL - Nice work Jeff. I suppose it's a start that could be cleaned up and some other columns added. Drive currents, dimensions, power consumption, MSRP, included accessories... all of that.

Maybe CV should hire you also.

It is jaw dropping (to me at least) that a fan has to do this for them on a forum after years of brow beating. I honestly don't know what else to say, other than to simply laugh.

Cleaned it up alittle and added pricing. The other information I feel would cloudy the water for majority of users from an intro/high level perspective. I have other charts on the DIY forums that go into more of those details.

 

[Tinklez]

Has anyone found any black Friday deals yet?

 

[JeffB418]

Has anyone found any black Friday deals yet?

Sales start tonight at midnight and will be announced then I believe.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

Has anyone found any black Friday deals yet?

As mentioned, the sale went live last night. I got everything from SaltwaterAquarium.com . They have great CS and selection. They also offer a discount program on non-sale items for first responders and military which says a lot about the brand. BRS doesn't sale HYDROS because of a MAP pricing disagreement that they had so I have been shopping SaltwaterAquarium lately.

I ended up picking up a Kraken and an XP8 with some various cables to connect to the used X4 I got on here. @Connor At CoralVue (sorry, I didn't know who else to tag @CoralVue ) My dreams were once again shattered by the absence of the MAVEN though (I knew it wasn't going to happen).

Another Bonus for shopping with SaltwaterAquarium, they have "freebies" for a bunch of different price ranges depending on your cart total. So I got a Hanna Nitrate LR checker that I've been thinking about picking up but didn't really want to spend the extra money for.

 

[JeffB418]

As mentioned, the sale went live last night. I got everything from SaltwaterAquarium.com . They have great CS and selection. They also offer a discount program on non-sale items for first responders and military which says a lot about the brand. BRS doesn't sale HYDROS because of a MAP pricing disagreement that they had so I have been shopping SaltwaterAquarium lately.

I ended up picking up a Kraken and an XP8 with some various cables to connect to the used X4 I got on here. @Connor At CoralVue (sorry, I didn't know who else to tag @CoralVue ) My dreams were once again shattered by the absence of the MAVEN though (I knew it wasn't going to happen).

Another Bonus for shopping with SaltwaterAquarium, they have "freebies" for a bunch of different price ranges depending on your cart total. So I got a Hanna Nitrate LR checker that I've been thinking about picking up but didn't really want to spend the extra money for.

Another place to keep an eye on is the outlet. Additional 30% off using the code on some items: https://store.coralvue.com/